The darkness that had dominated the castle began to yield. The shadows, once threatening and relentless, now dissipated, as if being sucked away by an invisible force. Kubo's power, the crushing gravity, and the treacherous shadows were slowly disappearing, leaving behind only the echoes of a battle still in progress.
Inside the hall, the scene was even more chaotic. Kubo, with his last breaths of resistance, was consumed by Mao. The monstrous figure of Kubo, his skin covered by a dark layer and his Kugutsu as an extension of his own essence, writhed in agony as Mao's uncontrollable force devoured him. The transformation was fast and relentless. Kubo's energy became a beam of black light that was swallowed by Mao with a snap of his teeth.
— "You were a worthy meal," Mao murmured, with a cruel smile as he looked at the void where Kubo once was.
The flesh and soul of Kubo were slowly dissolved by Mao's growing darkness until the last trace of the scientist completely vanished.
Gotier, his face marked by pain and worry for Yuzuki, advanced, his hand firmly holding the lightning spear. The air around him was saturated with Don'yoku's pulsing electricity. His eyes, no longer burdened by compassion, were focused on the greater threat ahead.
— "Mao!" Gotier shouted, his voice filled with fury and determination. "Do you think you can consume everything around you? You will not destroy what is left of humanity in Yuzuki!"
Mao, now fully in control of Yuzuki's body, had Yuzuki's gaze extinguished, his eyes now completely red, glowing with an evil light.
— "You are mistaken, Gotier. Yuzuki is just the vessel. The true power is within me, and you cannot stop it," Mao said, his laughter echoing through the room.
The darkness surrounding Mao began to intensify once again, but this time it was accompanied by a surge of electrical energy. The confrontation was about to become even deadlier. Gotier threw his lightning spear at Mao, but the darkness around the demon distorted, absorbing the attack almost naturally.
— "Impressive, Gotier. But you still don't understand the depth of the abyss you are about to fall into," Mao taunted, his eyes now glowing like hellfire.
Don'yoku, the emperor of lightning, seemed to feel the tension in the air. The battle between light and darkness was intensifying, and Gotier's energy, already overloaded, was starting to show signs of failure.
Outside the Castle
Outside, Akari, Paige, Fryr, and Zeke were finally out of the castle, but they had no time to relax. The weight of the battle still affected them, the tension in the air was palpable, and the darkness that once dominated the castle was now fading, but something still didn't feel right.
Akari, her eyes fixed on the horizon, realized that while the darkness was dissipating, it was still leaving behind a trail of desolation. She looked at Zeke, who seemed more tense than ever.
— "The darkness is fading, but we can't let our guard down," she said with a grave voice, looking at Paige, who was visibly worried.
Zeke, with a distant look, replied:
— "It's Kubo's gravity… he was controlling all the energy here. Now that he's been consumed, that force is leaving, but the fight's not over."
Paige, with teary eyes, looked at Fryr, who was by her side, holding her hand.
— "Do you think… do you think Yuzuki will survive?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Fryr looked at her with a firm gaze, trying to hide his fear.
— "He will. We can't lose hope now, Paige."
As the conversation continued, Zeke looked back at the castle, the sight of the battle intensifying his anguish.
— "They're fighting something bigger than we imagined," Zeke said, his voice heavy with sorrow.
He was right. Inside the castle, the real battle was just beginning.
Inside the Hall: The Second Round
The battle between Gotier and Mao raged on. Mao's darkness spread across the floor like a thick mist, absorbing the light around it. Gotier, with Don'yoku's lightning still illuminating his figure, was getting closer and closer to giving in. His body was beginning to succumb to the pressure of the demonic power that Mao was unleashing.
Mao, laughing cruelly, advanced toward the priest, extending his hands, ready to crush everything around him.
— "You will never understand, Gotier. I am the end of everything! The light you try to hold onto is a weak beacon in the vastness of my darkness!"
Gotier, his face marked by exhaustion, did not hesitate. He knew he was risking everything. With desperate strength, he shouted:
— "Don'yoku, free yourself completely. Give me your true power!"
As the last word left his lips, the energy around him intensified, becoming a wave of pure electricity. Don'yoku's power exploded, stronger than ever, as he shot a beam of lightning directly at Mao. But Mao, with a devilish smile, used his own ability to distort the reality around him. He surrounded Gotier in a sphere of darkness and gravity, tightening the pressure on the priest.
— "You won't succeed, Gotier. No matter how much you fight. I am the true power in this world," Mao said as the darkness enveloped him more and more.
Gotier, about to pass out, looked at Yuzuki, who was trapped inside the mental prison created by Mao. The priest knew that the only way to save Yuzuki and defeat Mao was by sacrificing even more of himself.
And as light and darkness fought for supremacy, time was running out. The chapter ends with the imminent feeling that the battle between light and darkness, between good and evil, is far from over, and the price of victory will be high for everyone.
Gotier was kneeling, his body heavy from the overwhelming power of Mao. Trapped in a cage of black energy, his eyes were half-closed, nearly losing consciousness. The layer of lightning that once illuminated his figure was dissipating, and he knew he didn't have much time left.
Mao, now completely at ease in control of Yuzuki's body, watched with a sadistic smile.
— "You fought well, priest, but you're at the end of the line. There's no light that can survive my darkness."
Outside the castle, Akari, Paige, Fryr, and Zeke noticed the darkness beginning to fade. Kubo's suffocating energy had vanished, and in its place, an even more formidable aura emerged from the castle. Zeke, with a grave expression, whispered:
— "This... is not a good sign."
Paige's Return
Suddenly, Paige, despite Akari's pleas, ran back toward the castle. Her bare feet hit the cold, cracked ground, but she didn't care. The fear in her eyes was overshadowed by something stronger: the need to save Yuzuki.
In the main hall, Mao laughed, sensing the girl's approach.
— "Ah, little Paige. What a delightful thrill. Let's give her a final show."
She ran in, her eyes watery, and hugged Yuzuki with all the strength she had.
— "Please, come back! Don't leave us, Yuzuki!" she begged, tears streaming down her face.
Mao hesitated. For a moment, his connection to Yuzuki's body weakened.
— "What... is this?" he growled.
It was enough for Yuzuki to regain control. He opened his eyes, now glowing with an intense light, and smiled slightly at Paige.
— "Idiot," he muttered, addressing Mao. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Thank you, Paige, for saving me."
He struggled to rise, his body still wounded, but now filled with a new determination. Looking at Gotier, who was still fighting against his imprisonment, he declared:
— "With Gotier's teachings, I will use the Genkai technique to strengthen my control over you, Mao."
Yuzuki closed his eyes, gathering every fragment of strength left in him. His mind dove into his training with Gotier, recalling the priest's words:
— "The Genkai technique is not just a skill. It is the manifestation of your will to resist, to not be consumed, and to impose yourself on the Kugutsu."
He raised his hands, and a glowing seal began to form before his chest. Mao, realizing the danger, screamed inside him:
— "Stop! You don't know what you're doing!"
Yuzuki ignored him.
— "Your mistake was devouring Kubo and not realizing that the priest Gotier's technique still emanated light in the body you took. Now, you're weak. It's the right time to capture you."
The seal expanded, glowing like a miniature sun, illuminating the entire castle. Mao howled in pain, his dark presence being pushed back into the depths of Yuzuki's body.
With Yuzuki's light breaking the darkness, the cage around Gotier began to crack. He lifted his head, his eyes shining with new determination.
— "Yuzuki... you did it," he murmured.
But he knew the price would be high. Struggling to rise, Gotier channeled the remains of his energy and shot a lightning bolt directly at Yuzuki's seal, strengthening it even further.
— "This is my last offering. Make it count," he said before collapsing to his knees, exhausted.
The hall was silent. The darkness had receded, and Yuzuki's seal pulsed faintly on his chest, signaling that Mao had been temporarily subdued. Paige was still hugging him, sobbing softly. Akari and Fryr rushed in, followed by Zeke, who now looked at Yuzuki with a mix of respect and concern.
Yuzuki, in a weak voice, looked at the group.
— "This... isn't over," he said before passing out.
The chapter ends with the group gathered, but Mao's threat still hanging over them like a shadow.